Belhaven University vs Jackson State University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Belhaven University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Jackson State University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Belhaven University at $31,034 vs Jackson State University at $35,819. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $52,250 vs $60,000.
| Metric | Belhaven University | Jackson State University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Public |
| State | Ms | Ms |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $31,034* | $35,819 |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $52,250 | $60,000* |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer Science (93/100)* | Computer and Information Sciences (91/100) |
| Best Major Debt | $25,925* | $30,831 |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000 | $95,000 |
Belhaven University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Jackson State University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Belhaven University at $31,034 vs Jackson State University at $35,819. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $52,250 vs $60,000.
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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
Average debt loads run moderate but not equal — Belhaven University at $31,034 versus $35,819 at the alternative. At standard repayment terms the monthly difference is $51/month, which is real money over a decade but small enough that the program-fit and earnings considerations should usually outweigh it.
Median first-year earnings sit moderately apart at Belhaven University and Jackson State University. The school with stronger earnings has a real edge for high-cost-of-living markets where the absolute dollar figure matters; the school with lower earnings can still be the better choice in markets where the cost-of-living differential more than offsets the income gap.
Both schools sit in Ms, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.